E-470 interchange coming to Quebec Street in Thornton

Work on the Quebec/ E-470 interchange project begins in April when the city of Thornton and a residential developer will pave portions of Quebec Street north of 124th Avenue to Colorado 7.

"One of the agreements to putting in the interchange was that the city would pave their road section and improve the road for people to drive on throughout that whole corridor," said Brett Henry, Thornton street operations manager. "It's been due for a while."

Construction on the $6 million, toll-funded development will begin at the end of April and is slated to open Memorial Day 2015, said E-470 engineering manager Jim Brady.

Thornton and Lennar, the developer of the Heritage Todd Creek subdivisions along Colorado 7, will smooth the bumpy roads and widen the shoulders of the two-lane street starting April 7. Lennar is responsible for the road north of the E-470 bridge, and Thornton is handling the southern sections to 124th Avenue.

Quebec Street will be closed during paving process. Henry said it will take four days to complete each of the two phases from April 7-10, and again from April 14-17.

"This isn't a permanent improvement," Henry said. "We're putting a 4-inch asphalt cap on the road. It's not a 20-year design life by any means."

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He said the long-term vision of Quebec Street is a six-lane roadway. Since the Walmart at 7101 E. 128th Ave. opened in 2010, traffic has become much heavier in northeast Thornton. Henry said the demand for more lanes in the area is growing.

"That construction would ultimately be the responsibility of a future developer," he said.

Brady said there are no anticipated road closures during the yearlong construction of the E-470 interchange, just construction traffic.

Officials at E-470 will hold a public meeting to explain the project from 5-7 p.m. April 2 at the Todd Creek Golf Club at 8455 Heritage Drive in Thornton.

"Based on a traffic and revenue study, that interchange was the best option for future expansion of the highway," Brady said.

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